You think you know about the Civil Rights movement. I know you do. You know all about the movement to secure the vote…right? Well, guess again my friend. In this episode, Julian discusses his upcoming book, The Dream is Lost: Voting Rights and the Politics of Race in Richmond, Virginia, and opens our eyes to the unintended consequences and the legacy of the movement to secure voting rights for African Americans in Richmond, Virginia in the 1950s and 60s.

We discuss:

The “suffrage crusades” in Richmond that predate the Voting Rights Act of 1965 and the mobilization of black voters

Resistance to mobilization in Richmond

Redistricting and marginalization of black people by the end of the 20th century

Have you ever been minding your own business enjoying a little Civil War history contemplation when someone tries to convince you that there were thousands of black soldiers in the Confederate Army? I have a little talk with historian Kevin Levin, author of Remembering the Battle of the Crater: War as Murder, about this phenomenon. We talk about the controversy and the myth…and in the end, try to come to some conclusions about why it is so important for so many to imagine black soldiers in gray.

We discuss…

How one might define a “soldier.”

How black people involuntarily contributed to the Confederate cause

Why the myth of Black Confederates is so persistent

And whether or not it is worthwhile arguing with wingnuts

And that’s not all – Kevin offers some advice for students and makes a great movie recommendation…you’ll want to move on this one.